Machine for reshaping bottle caps



Sept. 14, 1943. s. E. BERRY' 2,329,325

MACHINE FOR RESHAPING BOTTLE CAPS Filed March 1, 1945 Patented Sept. 14, 1943 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR RESHAPING BOTTLE. CAPS- Sherman E. Berry, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 1, 1943, Serial No. 477,526

5 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for reshaping metallic bodies and it has particular reference to such a machine for straightening used bottle caps for further service.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine which is wholly automatic in the operation of returning to its original shape bottle caps, generally known as crown caps, which have been spread by having been used and distorted in the operation of removing them from a bottle and in the reshaping operation, the machine utilizes a novel form of multi-purpose cam capable of performing all of the functions necessary to reciprocate both male and female reforming dies and to propel the cap carrier in timed relation with the movements of the dies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for reclaiming ,used bottle caps in which the body thereof is comprised of a single machined casting, making for simplicity and economy of construction and assembly, sturdiness and efficiency in performance.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cap reclaiming machine constructed according to the present invention with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view on line 2-2 on Figur 1, showing the pawl and ratchet mechanism for actuating the cap carriage.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view, partly in section and taken on line 3-3 on Figure 1, illustrating the multipurpose cam.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the cam shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the machine body, showing the male and female reforming dies.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein reference numeral l denotes generally the main body of the machine which is preferably formed of a single casting to include the supporting legs ll; upright l2 and plunger guide l3 forwardly of the upright l2. The legs H are mounted upon angle irons M.

The body casting I0 is designed to define a bearing l and a similar bearing l8 at a higher level on the upright l2 or at the top thereof. Journaled in the bearing I5 is a stub shaft H which carries a pinion l8, operating in an opening IS in the upright l2, and upon the outer end of the shaft I1 is mounted a grooved pulley 20. A motor 2| is mounted on the base provided by the angle irons l4 and a belt 21a surrounds its drive pulley 22 and the pulley 20 as a means for operating the machine in a manner to be presently described.

The pinion l8 enmeshes and'drives a comparatively large gear 23, mounted on a stub shaft 24 (Figure 4), the latter being journaled in the upper bearing l6 of the upright 12. Also mounted on the shaft 24, at its opposite. end is a multipurpose cam 25, to which specific reference will be later made.

'I'he plunger guide I3 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a replaceable bushing 26 conformably arranged therein and in which reciprocates the plunger 21. The plunger 21 has a crosshead 28 mounted upon or formed integrally with its upper end. This cross-head is shaped by machining a rectangular cavity 29 in one side to accommodate a block 30. A retainer plate 3| is affixed by bolts 32 to the cross-head 28 to constrain the block 30 against other than reciprocatory movement in the cavity 29. The block 30 is joined eccentrically to the cam by means of a threaded bolt 33, as shown in Figure 3.

It is apparent from the foregoing that as the motor 2| drives the pulley 20 by means of the belt 2 la, the large gear 23 will be rotated through its engagement with pinion l'8. The cam 25 will accordingly be rotated, carrying with it the block and by reason of its pivotal connection with the cam face, will move from side to side in the cavity 29, imparting to the cross-head and plunger, a reciprocatory motion.

The rotary carriage 34 by which the distorted caps (not shown) are advanced into and out of the operating range of the dies is shown fragmentarily in Figure l and in broken lines in Figure 2. This carriage consists simply of a disclike element having circularly spaced apertures 35 adjacent its edge slightly larger in diameter than the caps which are deposited therein in inverted position. The disc 34 is rotatably mounted on a circular plate 36, the latter being fixed to the protruding portion 3l of the machine base by means of screws orifibolts 'insertable through holes 38. The circular plate 36 has a centrally disposed opening, snugly receiving a flange 39, the latter having an elevated circular portion 40 in its center which is received by a similar but smaller opening in the center of the carriage disc 35. However, this latter opening is slightly larger thanthe'elevated portion 40 in order that the disc 34 may freely rotate yet be.

held against displacement by the member 40.

A spindle 4| (Figure 2) extends through the boss 42, cast integral with the portion 31 of the machine base and is cored and threaded at its upper end to receive a bolt 43 which, together with the retainer flange 44, holds the carriage 34 securely in place.

On the lower end of the spindle 4| is mounted .a ratchet wheel 45, The number of teeth on this wheel equals the number of apertures 35 in the carriage disc 34 since it is through the medium of this ratchet wheel and the cam that the apertures are brought successively into alignment with the dies. Mounted freely on the spindle 4| is an arm 46, the outer end of which extends beyond the periphery of the ratchet wheel 45. A dog or pawl 41 is'pivoted to the flared head 48 of the arm 46 and is constrained by a tension spring 49 to remain in operative relationship with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 45.

Pivotally connected to the opposite side of the head 46 is a link 56. This link forms a connection between the arm 46 and an arm 5|, the latter being mounted upon the lower end of a vertically disposed rod .52, extending upward alongside the upright I2 of the machine and to which further reference will be presently made. The arm 5| iscaused by the rod 52 to oscillate and to move vertically during oscillation.

The arm 5| has a protuberance 53 on one side adjacent its free end which provides a seat for the stem 54 of the female die 55 (Figure 5). The

die 55 and stem 54 are made in a single piece.

The die is freely mounted in a recess provided therefor in a removable block 56 set in the portion 31 of the machine base and the stem 54 extends freely downward through a passage made in the portion 31 to rest loosely upon the arm 5|.

The connection afforded by the link between the arm 5| and ratchet arm 46 is of a universal nature, consequently, when the arm 5| oscillates, a similar action is imparted to the arm 46 to effect intermittent rotation of the .ratchet wheel 45 and similar movement of the "garriage disc 34. At the same time, the uniitersal connection permits vertical displacement q the arm 5| at intervals, predetermined by the c m 25, when it is required to elevate the fetile die in the process of ejecting a reshaped bottle cap.

The carriage disc 34 has a plurality of spaced V-shaped recesses 51 in its perimeter and on one side of the machine there is mounted on an arm 58, a roller 59 adapted to roll on the perimeter of the disc and drop into the recesses 51 successively, thereby to hold the disc 34 against possible displacement when a cap receptacle 35 is in aligned position with the dies. The arm 58 which carries this roller is under suitable spring tension to maintain the roller against the disc 34.

Referring now specifically to the multi-pur pose cam 25, it is pointed out that this cam, while cast in a single piece, has three separate functions. First: by reason of its eccentric connection with the plunger 21, this element is caused to reciprocate. Second: the rear face a is inclined in relation to the front thereof, providing a medium for oscillating the rod 52 by means of the arm 59 and follower 66 ca-'"ieu thereby and which bears against the cam face a, and third: by reason of the irregular periphery b of the projection 6| of cam 25, and on which rests the follower 60, the rod 52 is causedto be raised and lowered, under resistance of spring 52a resulting in the raising and lowering of the female die 55 through arm 5|, connected to the rod 52, in timed relation to the reciprocatory movements of the plunger 21 which carries the companion die.

Referring now particularly to the die assembly, it will be noted primarily that the shank 62 (Figure 5) is threaded into the plunger. and that a lock nut 63 is t eaded thereon, to secure the shank in adjusted positions. This arrangement makes possible minute adjustments in the stroke length of the male die element 64 which is attended by a complementary part 65 displace-- ably mounted on the shank 62 and held under tension by spring 66. The upper portion of the spring 66 is retained by an interiorly threaded sleeve 61 and an integral nut 66. By raising and lowering the sleeve 61, the tension of the spring 66 is respectively decreased and increased.

In operation, used bottle caps are deposited upside down in the receptacles 35 in advance of the dies as the carriage 34 revolves. Immediately before the die 64 descends, the cam follower 60 is in the dotted position shown in Figure 4, i. e.. resting on the raised portion of the peripheral surface b of portion 6| of the cam 25. When in this position, the die element 55 is elevated or in ejecting position. Simultaneously, the follower 661s bearing against the low portion of the cam face a which is the position permitting thearm 5| to recede to allow the pawl 41 to renew its position relative to the teeth of the ratchet wheel 45 preparatory to advancing the same and the carriage 34 to a new position. Immediately prior to the downward stroke of the plunger 21, the follower 66 rides off the high portion of the irregular periphery b of cam portion 6|, causing the rod 52 to be lowered, thereby lowering the arm 5| and die element 55 preparatory to receiving the advancing bottle cap and subsequently the companion die 64. However, before this occurs, the follower 66 begins to ride upon the high portion of the cam face a, causing the rod 52 to rotate. This action moves the arm 5| to the right in Figure 2, advancing the ratchet wheel 45 the space of one. tooth and the carriage 34 the space of one aperture to bring the cap into operative alignment with the die elements. The dies then act upon the cap and as the plunger 21 recedes, the follower 66 begins to ride off the high portion of the cam face a causing the rod 52 to actuate the arm 5|, the latter in turn movingthe arm 46 so that the pawl 41 will assume a new position on the ratchet wheel 45. It is to be noted that the cam facea is so designed as to cause the ratchet wheel to advance twice to each cycle of the male die 64. This is to provide for the advancing of, a cap intopcsition relative to the dies and to remove the same therefrom subsequent to action thereon by the dies. When reshaped, the cap is advanced by the carriage to a point A in Figure 1 where it drops through an opening in the plate 36 as alignment is made therewith by the openings 35 in the carriage disc 34. a

It is to be remembered that the cam face b v is designed so that it will raise and lower rod 52 the cap will be thrust once again into the opening 35 in the carriage 34 in which it was deposited, the carriage conveying the now reformed cap to the aperture A for discharge.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for operating dies in the reshaping of distorted metallic bodies including a base and an upright, a vertically reclprocable die plunger supported by said upright, a carriage rotatably supported on said base having circularly spaced recesses adapted to receive and transport said bodies for alignment with said plunger, a complementary die carrying element mounted in said base in alignment with said plunger and arranged for free vertical movement, ratchet means for propelling said carriage, a cam having eccentric connection with said plunger for actuating the same and provided with an irregular face, means bearing against said face and actuated thereby to operate said ratchet means, a protuberance on said cam having an irregular periphery, means controlled thereby for vertically actuating said complementary die carrying element to eject reshaped bodies and means for rotating said cam.

2. A machine for operating dies comprising cooperating die carrying elements, a rotatable carriage having spaced work receiving openings therein adapted to be successively aligned with the converging points of said die carrying elements when said carriage is rotated, a cam formed with a piano and an irregular face, a protuberance on said cam having an irregular periphery, means effecting eccentric connection between said piano cam face and one of said die carrying elements to reciprocate the same, means affected by said irregular cam face for actuating said carriage and means aflected by said irregular cam periphery for operating the companion die carrying element to eject retical displacement, a rotary transporting means for conveyin caps into operative alignment with said die carrying elements, ratchet means for actuating said transporting means, a driven cam having an irregular face and having eccentric connection with said reciprocable die carrying element to operate the same,'a cam follower bearing against and laterally actuated by the irregular face of said cam operative to effect intermittent rotary movement of said transporte ing means through said ratchet means, a protuberance formed integrally with said cam having an irregular periphery and on which said cam follower rides to effect vertical movement thereof, and means affected by the vertical disv placement of said cam follower to periodically elevate said complementary die carrying element to effect ejection of reshaped caps.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 3 in which the cam follower consists of a pin. constrained to bear against the irregular face of the cam and against the irregular periphery of the protuberance of the cam, a vertical rod connected at its upper end to said follower to be oscillated and vertically reciprocated thereby, a spring constrainin said pin against displacement and means carried by the lower end of the rod controlling through movements of the rod, the operation of the ratchet means and the complementary die carrying element.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 3 in which the cam consists of a circular body having a protuberance on one side of a diameter less than that of the body and defining a juxta-positioned marginal area on the body having a gradual rise and fall through the diameter of the body, the periphery of the said protuberance having a gradual rise and an abrupt fall at substantially diametrically opposed points.

SHERMAN E. BERRY. 

